PCB Naqvi Announces Central Contracts for U19 Cricketers

News Desk
LAHORE: In a landmark development for grassroots cricket in Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced the introduction of maiden central contracts for the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team players.
The historic decision was finalized during a special meeting in Lahore, where the PCB chief interacted directly with the young squad members to laud their exceptional athletic performances and remarkable resilience during their recent high-profile tour of England.
During the interaction, Chairman Naqvi commended the teenagers for their tenacity and skill on foreign soil, emphasizing that the board remains fully committed to nurturing domestic talent through structured financial and institutional backing.
Offering formal central contracts to Under-19 cricketers is unprecedented in Pakistan’s cricketing history, signaling a strategic shift toward early professionalization, secure career pathways, and enhanced player welfare.
This policy initiative aims to bridge the wide gap between junior and senior international cricket, ensuring that promising youngsters receive sustained logistical support, advanced training facilities, and professional mentorship without financial distress.
Sports analysts view the move as a crucial catalyst for bolstering the talent pipeline, which has historically struggled with seamless transitions from age-group cricket to the national senior side due to inadequate institutional backing.
Following this announcement, the PCB directorate is expected to finalize the financial tiers, code of conduct, and performance benchmarks associated with the new U19 contracts.
The board aims to roll out the formal agreements ahead of the upcoming domestic and international junior calendar, setting a new benchmark for youth sports development across the region.